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Student loan debt just hit $1.5 trillion; Women hold most of it

<p>Women hold nearly two-thirds of all student debt in the US, according to a report from the American Association of University Women, a group that advocates for equity and education for women and girls.</p>

About four in 10 people who've gone to college have taken out loans to pay for school. But some people are taking on a lot more debt than others.

Women hold nearly two-thirds of all student debt in the US, according to a report
from the American Association of University Women, a group that advocates for equity and education for women and girls.

Part of the reason is that more women go to college. They represented 56 percent of students enrolled in the fall of 2016.

But that doesn't explain the whole gender gap.

More women take out loans, and when they do, they borrow more money. The average woman owes $2,740 more than a man upon finishing a bachelor's degree, the report said
.

Women are also repaying their debt more slowly, which can mean they're paying more in interest over time.

42 percent of people who've gone to college took out debt

A bigger percentage of recent grads are taking on debt.But borrowing has declined since its peak during the 2010-2011 school year.

Average new grad owes $28,400

Among those who finished a bachelor's degree in 2016 with debt, the average amount was $28,400, according to The College Board
. That's up from $22,100 in 2001 (reported in 2016 dollars). It does not include those who went to a for-profit college.

20 percent of borrowers are behind on payments

Those who never finished their degrees are more likely tohave trouble keeping up with their payments, the Federal Reserve report said. Just 11% percent of those who completed a bachelor's degree were behind and 5% of those who had a graduate degree had fallen behind on payments.